bluebandits
Well-Known Member
about '99 play-off final ref Mark Halsey. Baconface has sent his good luck message to the premiership whistler and I think you will all agree, this transcends football loyalty. Good luck to Mark and his Wife in their ongoing battles.
From MUEN
SIR Alex Ferguson has sent a heartfelt message of support to Premier league referee Mark Halsey as he battles cancer.
The Bolton-based referee, 48, has been diagnosed with lymphatic cancer after an operation to remove a tumour from his throat and will now be treated at the Christie Hospital.
Specialists
His wife Michelle, who is also being treated for leukaemia, said doctors detected the cancer in his neck and tonsils.
They believe however that it has been caught early - and yesterday he was told by specialists that it has not spread.
Mrs Halsey, who was diagnosed with leukaemia six months ago, told the M.E.N. that United manager Sir Alex was one of a number of top-flight managers and players to offer their support.
She said: "Mark has had messages from a lot of players and managers.
"Sir Alex Ferguson has been on the phone and has given him his best.
"He wants to see him back on the pitch as soon as possible. It is really nice and lots of people have given us their support.
"His spirits are as well as they can be but nothing can prepare you for being told that you have cancer."
Tumour
Mr Halsey, who lives in Little Lever, Bolton, and owns the Sottovento Italian restaurant in Farnworth with his wife, was told he had a tumour last week and was treated at a private clinic in Bolton just days after he refereed Arsenal's opening day 6-1 win at Everton.
Surgeons removed the tumour and he returned to the clinic yesterday to be told the cancer had not spread beyond his neck and tonsils.
He had been taking painkillers for a sore throat and ear infection for months.
Mrs Halsey, who is also being treated at the Manchester hospital, said: "He has been diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes, lymphatic cancer. It was in his tonsils and in his neck.
"They think that they have caught it all early because it was in its primary stages.
"We are now waiting to hear back from Christies and he will have to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We are waiting to hear when he will have to go for the treatment."
Mr Halsey, regarded as one of the Premier League's top referees, has been taken off the FA's appointment list. Mrs Halsey however said he hoped to resume training soon. She added: "They have told him that he has to live his life as normal.
"He wants to continue to work. He is such a stubborn man and he loves his football. He is not one to sit around and wants to get back on with it. He has been taken off the games at the minute but he is hopeful of starting training again soon, but it depends on his treatment.
'Shock'
"Everyone is in shock but people have been really nice. Customers have been sending him get well wishes and he has had a lot of support from colleagues. He is really touched by how many people have been thinking about him."
Mrs Halsey was diagnosed with leukaemia on New Year's Eve and is still being treated.
The couple, who have a three-year-old daughter Lucy Mia, will now be treated together at the Christie and at home. She said: "It is unbelievable that we could both get cancer within eight months. I am still being treated but we are both being strong.
"We just want to thank people for the kind words." Hertfordshire-born Mr Halsey was appointed to the Football League list of referees in the mid-1990s then promoted to the Premier League in 1999. He has officiated three times at Wembley, including the 2008 Carling Cup Final between Chelsea and Tottenham.
From MUEN
SIR Alex Ferguson has sent a heartfelt message of support to Premier league referee Mark Halsey as he battles cancer.
The Bolton-based referee, 48, has been diagnosed with lymphatic cancer after an operation to remove a tumour from his throat and will now be treated at the Christie Hospital.
Specialists
His wife Michelle, who is also being treated for leukaemia, said doctors detected the cancer in his neck and tonsils.
They believe however that it has been caught early - and yesterday he was told by specialists that it has not spread.
Mrs Halsey, who was diagnosed with leukaemia six months ago, told the M.E.N. that United manager Sir Alex was one of a number of top-flight managers and players to offer their support.
She said: "Mark has had messages from a lot of players and managers.
"Sir Alex Ferguson has been on the phone and has given him his best.
"He wants to see him back on the pitch as soon as possible. It is really nice and lots of people have given us their support.
"His spirits are as well as they can be but nothing can prepare you for being told that you have cancer."
Tumour
Mr Halsey, who lives in Little Lever, Bolton, and owns the Sottovento Italian restaurant in Farnworth with his wife, was told he had a tumour last week and was treated at a private clinic in Bolton just days after he refereed Arsenal's opening day 6-1 win at Everton.
Surgeons removed the tumour and he returned to the clinic yesterday to be told the cancer had not spread beyond his neck and tonsils.
He had been taking painkillers for a sore throat and ear infection for months.
Mrs Halsey, who is also being treated at the Manchester hospital, said: "He has been diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes, lymphatic cancer. It was in his tonsils and in his neck.
"They think that they have caught it all early because it was in its primary stages.
"We are now waiting to hear back from Christies and he will have to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We are waiting to hear when he will have to go for the treatment."
Mr Halsey, regarded as one of the Premier League's top referees, has been taken off the FA's appointment list. Mrs Halsey however said he hoped to resume training soon. She added: "They have told him that he has to live his life as normal.
"He wants to continue to work. He is such a stubborn man and he loves his football. He is not one to sit around and wants to get back on with it. He has been taken off the games at the minute but he is hopeful of starting training again soon, but it depends on his treatment.
'Shock'
"Everyone is in shock but people have been really nice. Customers have been sending him get well wishes and he has had a lot of support from colleagues. He is really touched by how many people have been thinking about him."
Mrs Halsey was diagnosed with leukaemia on New Year's Eve and is still being treated.
The couple, who have a three-year-old daughter Lucy Mia, will now be treated together at the Christie and at home. She said: "It is unbelievable that we could both get cancer within eight months. I am still being treated but we are both being strong.
"We just want to thank people for the kind words." Hertfordshire-born Mr Halsey was appointed to the Football League list of referees in the mid-1990s then promoted to the Premier League in 1999. He has officiated three times at Wembley, including the 2008 Carling Cup Final between Chelsea and Tottenham.